Metal-punching machine.



E. V. WURTS.

METAL PUNCHING MACHINE. APPLicATIoN FILED SEPT. 19. 191e.

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METAL PUNCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. i9.19l6.

Patented Sept. 25, 191?.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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METAL PUNCHING MACHINE. AP-PLrcATloN FILED SEPT. 19. 1.916.

@muted Sept, 25, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SNEEK 3.

Willi/JEVS E. v. wums. METAL PUNCHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- I9. 1916.

Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

WIM'ESSES UNITE@ TA l EDWARD V. WURTS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO STEEL UTILITIES, INCORPORATED, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

METAL-rimaniamo MACHINE.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD V. WURTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallunching Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to machines and mechanisms for automatically positioning or spacing and punching rivet holes in structural beams and like work, and more especially in certain aspects thereof to means for coperating with a perforated distance record sheet to control the travel and stopping of the beam and the operation of the punching means thereon, together with means for feeding forward the perforated distance record sheet as desired.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth hereinafter in part, and in part will be obvious herefrom, the same being attained and realized through the means and combinations set out in the appended claims. f e.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, `combinations and improvements herein shown and described. y

The accompanying drawings herein referred to, and forming a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and with the description, serve to explain `the principles thereof.

Of the drawings: p

Figure l is an end elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention, and lookin-g at Fig. 2 from the bottom, and at F ig. 3 vfrom the right; l

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

1 i F ig. is a side elevation looking at Figs.

1 and 2 from the left;

Fig. l is a transverse section, on an enlarged scale, taken perpendicularly tol the plane of the paper on the line A-B of Fig. 1;

v v, .m L f F10. 5 is a somewhat dinerent form o b 4 u the mechanism shown at the upper end right hand parts of Fig. 1; n

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail of a distance record sheet; and p l Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic representation Applcatonfiled September 19, 1916.

Specification of Letters Patent. Paigntd Sept. 25, 191.7..-

Serial No. 120,921.

of parts of the machine and of their circuit connections.

A shape or beam punching machine controlled by a distance record sheet, Aadapted to provide and control widely varying successive feeds or distances of travel of the ary 26, 1914. My invention provides an improved machine of the kind described, and in connection with such a machine, means for correlating and safeguarding the alternate feeds of the shape and the distance record sheet, as well as other added features and improvements, as will appear herefrom.

Referring by way of example to the illustrated embodiment of the accompanying drawings of the means and devices coperating with the distance record sheet to control the shape vtraveling and stopping means, and for feeding the distance record sheet in harmony with the shape traveling and stopping means and the shape punching means, side frame members l and 2 are pro- 80 vided, extending upwardly from base members 8 and i, which base members are adapted to rest upon a table or like support. Means are provided by the invention coperating with the perforations 5 in the dis- 85 tance record sheet 6 to control the travel and positioning of the beams or like work, and

' in the embodied form, said means are electrically controlled and operated. In such embodied forni, a support 10, preferably of wood or other nonconducting material, is disposed horizontally and transversely between the upright frame members 1 and 2. The ends of said support 10 rest upon brackets 11 and 12, which extend inwardly from 95 the frame members l and 2, the support 10 being attached to the brackets in a suitable manner as by screws 13 and 14, respectively. Mounted in the support 10 area plurality of insulated electrical contacts, arranged in a bank along the support 10 a distance equal to the width of the space assigned to perforations in the distance record sheet 6. These contacts are also arranged in staggered relation for economy` of width in the record sheet and of space in the machine,

. and as shown, they are staggered three deep (Figs. 2 and 4), extending for the greater 'part of the length of the support 10 (only a few of the contacts being shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the remainder being preferably of the same structure and arrangement.

The contacts 15 are shown, respectively, with heads contained within recesses in the upper part of the support 10, the upper surface of the contacts being preferably flush with the top of the support. The contacts have downwardly extending rods 16 of less ycircuits correspondingto, and required for,

the particular distance reading of the machine as represented by the perforations i the distance record sheet.

As embodied, the carrier 2O is vcut away centrally, and in such cut away portion is i located a metalplate or block 21, having outwardly extending flanges 22 and 23 resting upon and included'within correspondingly shaped undercut portions of the carrier 20. Block 21 is held in position by suitable means such as bolts 24. ln the block 21 are mounted in series a plurality of springpressed contact pins' 25 adapted tocontact with the corresponding contacts 15 when the perforations in the controlling sheet so permit.

The contacts 25 and the coperating contacts 15 are arranged and positioned to correspond to any group of perfor-ations which` may'occur in the distance record sheet for any desired distance reading, whether it be for a travel of a fraction of an inch or of many feet, inches and a fraction, the feed of the sheet being definite and independent of the successive amounts of travel of the beam to be punched. ln the illustrated form the sets of contacts 15, 25 are arranged in three staggered rows `(see Figs. 2 and 4) and the perforations in sheet 6 ar-e correspondingly arranged. the distance between two of the transverse lines 7 2, marked on the distance record sheet in F ig. 6.

As embodied, the block 21 has a plurality of cylindrical apertures therein of relatively large diameter opening on the underside of said block, and communicating with the top side of the block by openings of smaller diameter. lln the larger openings are the heads 25 of the coperating contacts the respective heads being connected to rods 26, which rods extend outwardly through and substantially The forward feed is fill the apertures of smaller diameter at the topv of the block 21. n compression between the heads 25 of the contacts, respectively,

'and the inner end of thelarger part of the apertures are coiled springs 2T, which springs 'tend t0 press downwardly or outwardly the contact heads 25 in Fig. 4. rlhe rods 26 are preferably screw-threaded, and are provided with lock nuts 28 which limit their downward mo-vement. A single electrical circuit wire 29 is preferably connected to the metal block 21 by means of one of the bolts 24;

The springs 27 press the contact heads 25 against the distance record sheet G', but the contact heads cannot pass therethrough unless there is a perforation at that pointin the distance record sheet. At-the right hand in Fig. 4 is shown a contact passing through a perforation in the record sheet and thus closing the circuit through the corresponding contact 15, while-Y the two remaining contacts shown at the center and left in Fig. 4 are held in the circuit opening, or dead circuit,yposition by they inter-position therebetween of an unperforated portion of the distance record sheet 6.

Means are provided for lifting the contact carrying bar 20, 'and in accordance with certain features of the invention this is done automatically at each successive feeding forward lof the distance record sheet 6 by the machine immediately uponv the. completion of each perforation or punching of the beam.

VIn'the embodiedform of such means, the 100 bar 2O is pivotally supported or hinged at one end (at the left in Figs. 1 and 2) by means of apertured plates 30 attached to p the bar, and located between two upwardly extending brackets 31 and 32 fixed to the 105 machine frame, and likewise apertured. A rod 33 extends therethrough to form a hinge or pivoted support for the bar 20. At its opposite end (at the lright in Figs. 1 and 2) the supporting bar 20 is connected by suit- 110 able means, such as the lnotched plate 34 to avr rod 38 fixedito the core 41 of a solenoid 42. f

The notched plate 34 straddles the vertically disposed screw-threaded rod 38 be- 115 tween nuts 39 and 40 threaded on said rod'. The lrod 38 is connected to the core 41 of solenoid, the winding being indicated by 42. The core 41 is held in a decentered downward position `(in Fig. 1) by coil 120 spring 43 which spring is in compression between the solenoid casing 44 and a disk 45 carried upon the bottom end of a rod 4G, which rod is fixed to and extends downwardly from the bottom end of the solenoid core. Diskf45 may be held in yplace-by i a nut 47. The solenoid is operated by a circuit which is controlled by the punching means or some associated mechanism. yThe solenoid is energized at the completion of the punching operation, and its core 41 is thereby moved upwardly in F ig. l `and downwardly in Fig. 5, lifting the bar 2O and its bank of spring-pressed contacts away from the distance record sheet 6. The sheet 6 is thus left free, resting upon the iat reaches of the bands 67 and 69 with a plurality of the registering projections 68 and engaging a plurality of the holes 71 in the sheet6. The sheet 6 is then fed forward one step by means later to be described. When the solenoid circuit is denergized, the spring 43 brings the bar 20 down with the bank of contacts in position to cooperate with the perforations which have been presented by the feeding up of the distance record sheet.

Means are provided for swinging the bar 20 well back to afford ample space by removal and replacement of successive distance record sheets. For this purpose, the notched plate 34 is preferably slidably mounted upon the bar 2O and as shown it slides longitudinally beneath cross pieces 35 and 36 fixed to the bar 20, and is provided with a finger piece 37. By this means the notched plate may be slid backwardly, and thereby be disengaged from its solenoid connection, and the bar 2() be free to be raised by hand at any time as desired.

Means are provided for imparting an intermittent feed to the distance record sheet 6 to bring the successive distance readings into operative relation with the bank of contacts so that the beam may be traveled or progressed through the machine for the successive distances between the different rivet holes or groups of rivet holes, said means operating in timed relation with the punching mechanism. 1n the embodied form of such means, ar shaft 60 is mounted in the side frames 1 and 2, said shaft carrying two wheels 61 and 62, the peripheries of said wheels having depressions or recesses 66 formed therein, equally 'spaced apart about their circumt'erences. At the other end of the framesl and 2 is a shaft 63 having lixed thereon similar wheels 64 and 65, which likewise have in their peripheries depressions 66 equally spaced about their circumferences. Running over the wheels 61 and 64 is a belt 67, preferably of flexible metal, in which belt is embedded a series of balls or like projections 68 equally spaced apart with the depressions 66 in the peripheries or" the wheels. 0n the opposite side of the machine a belt 69 similar' to 67 is also provided with balls or projections 70 embedded therein and similarly spaced apart.

Referring to Fig. 6 the distance record Vsheet 6 has feeding apertures or perforations 71 arranged longitudinally along each edge thereof, said apertures being spaced apart the same distance as the balls 68 and 70. In the distance record sheet shown in Fig. 6 the distance of a single feed is represented by the successive transverse lines 72, there being room therebetween for three sets of staggered perforations corresponding to the contacts 15 and 25. The underside of the bar 20, as shown at 73 and 74 is recessed, as is also the bar l0, to permit the passage of the balls 68 and 70. The balls 68 and 70 simultaneously engage with a large number' of the holes 71 at either side of the distance record sheet 6 and with a large number of the depressions 66 on all four of the wheels 61, 62, 64 and 65. T here is thus provided a support of relatively great extent along and at either side of the distance record sheet 6, each of said supports having a plurality of registering devices continuously in engagement with the perforations 71 in the record sheet and a great number of registering devices in engagement with the registering recesses in the wheels ofthe mechanism, whereby the record sheet is kept in absolute alinement with the bank of contacts 15 and 25 at all times.

Means are provided for imparting an in termittent feed to the distance record sheet 6 from one distance reading to the next, the same operating automatically in connection with the operations of the punching machine, and being called into action at the completion of the punching operation. 1n certain aspects of the invention, said intermittent feed is secured in connection with a continuous friction drive. As embodied there is xed to the left hand end of the shaft 63 (Figs. 1 and 2) a ratchet wheel 80. A pawl-carrying arm 81 is mounted to swing upon shaft 63, a pawl 7 9 being mounted upon arm S1, the pawl engaging the ratchet wheel 80.

Pivotally connected to the outer end of the arm 81 is a downwardly extending arm 82, which arm is also pivotally connected to a crank arm 83. The arm 83 is fixed to a shaft 84, which shaft extends horizontally and is journaled in supports S5 and S6. Fixed to rotate with shaft 84 are friction disks 87. Loose upon shaft 84 is a worm wheel 88, which is pressed against the disks 67 by a spring 39 encircling the shaft S4. Spring' 89 is in compression between a plate 90 which is lixed to the worm wheel, and a friction plate or collar 91 upon the shaft 84. The collar 91 is provided with a clamping screw 92 by which the collar may be positioned and the vspring pressure thereby regulated. Meshingwith the worm wheel 88 is a worm 93 on a horizontal shaft 94, which shaft is journaled in supports 95 and 96, fixed to -the support 85. The shaft 94. is driven either directly or by gearing from a motor 97.

The embodied mechanism just described would tend to impart continuous rotation -to shaft 81 through the friction clutch and thereby a continuous reciprocation to arm 81,and thus to'continuously feed the distance record sheet 6. In. the embodied form of mechanism for eecting an intermittent feed of the sheet 6 in time with the punching mechanism, there is provided a longitudinally slidable pin 98 engaging arm 83 upon its forward, side. Pin 98 is mounted to slide in supports in a bracket 99, and is pressed into the path of the arm 83 by a spring 100, which spring is in compression between a collar 101 upon the pin 98 and a boss. 102 upon the support 85. The pin 98 is fixed to the core 103 of a solenoid 104:, the other end of the core 103 having a projecting rod 105 slidable in a support 106, the horizontal core being thus sli'dably supported within its winding and being'yieldingly held in decentered position by spring 100. Vhen the solenoid 104 is momentarily energized, the pin 98 is retracted `out Iof the path of the arm 83, the arm 83 being thereby released for a single revolution, the pin 98 returning to stopping position before the arm 83 has completed its revolution. rlhe pawll arm 81 is thereby given a single reciprocation, and its spring-pressed pawl 7 9 will feed forward the ratchet wheel 80, and impart a partial rotation to the shafts 60 and 63, and coperating parts, thereby feeding forward the distance record sheet 6 the space of a single reading. The shaft 84 is under a continuous impulsion toward rotation fromthe continuously ruiming motor 97, through the slip or friction drive between the worm wheel 88 and the disk 87, but the shaft 81 is held from rotation except when the arm 83 is released by the solenoid 1041, thereby giving a uniform positive and reliable intermittent and timed feed for the distance record sheet.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings is shown a different form of mounting and raising means for the contact supporting bars 20, said bar being pivotally supported atl its right hand end by means of lugs 111 fixed to the bar, and pivotally connected to links 110, which links are supported from a shaft 112 carried in an upwardly extending portion of the frame member 2. At the left hand end of bar 20 it is pivotally supported by means of lugs 1141iixed to the bar, and pi-votally connected to arms 113, -which arms are fixed to the bar 20. The arms. 113 are fixed to shaft 115, which shaft is journaled in upwardly extending portions of the frame 1. Fixed to shaft 115 is an arm 116, having a loose pivotal connection with the rod 38, which rod is connected to the solenoid core 11, and operating in the manner already described.

Means are provided by the invention for safeguarding against any feeding movement or release of the beam by the distance determining means while the distance record sheet is being fed forward for a new distance reading. In the embodied form of such means, the electrical circuits between the bank of contacts and the distance determining means are broken yduring the feeding forward of the distance record sheet 6, and the circuits are made when the feeding of the distance record sheet is completed. As embodied the trunk circuit wire 29 is connected toa stationary switch member 120, mounted on the frame base 3. From the member 120-extends a contact piece 121. Contacts 122 are provided movable into and out of engagement with contact 121 to successively make and break the circuit 24, the contacts 122 movingA inprop'er relation to the feed of the distance record-sheet. For this purpose the contacts 122 are mounted on a block 123, which yblock is slidably mounted on a guideway 119 on the base 3. A wire of the circuit 29 is connected to block 123. Pivoted to block 123 is a link 121, which link is also pivoted to an arm 125 fixed to move with arm 81 of the feeding mechanism for the distance record sheet. Thusat the beginning of the feeding of the distance record sheet through the actuation of arm 81, the circuit 29 for the entire bank of contacts 25 is broken between the switch members 121 and 122, and the circuit is not remade at that point until the close of the sheet'feeding movement. The shape traveling and positioning means is thus unable to operate during the feed of the sheet, but is brought into operation immediately thereafter' by the closing of the circuit 29 at 121-,122 and, through the contacts which have formed perforations in the record sheet 6,-thereby giving the corresponding travel and positioning of the shape relativelyto the punching mechanism.

In the embodied form of means for correlating and synchronizing the traveling and stopping and positioning for the shape, the punching thereof, and the feeding of the distance record sheet (see particularly Fig. 7)-, the contacts 15 and are shown making the desired or selected circuits through the distance record sheet 6. This electrically energizes the coils of contactors 140, which contactors control the operation and sequence of both the distance determining means and thek punching mechanism. T he distance determining devices or mechanism is shown in Fig. 7 in a conventional manner, being represented by the coils of contactors 1110-, but such mechanism, so far as concerns many features of the invention, may be of any suitable or approved form, and may be of the form shown in application Ser. No. 842,231 of L. A. Hawthorne, filed June 1, 19111. The shape is thus traveled the selected distance, is stopped in properposimanner hereinbefore described and cuts the v current off from the contacts 25 and also deenergizes coil 145 of contactor 146, allowing it to close and thereby energize solenoid 42, to lift the bar 20 during the feeding forward of the distance record sheet. Vhen the distance record sheet 6 has advanced the space of areading, the switch 121-122 is closed, thereby opening contactor 145 which denergizes solenoid 42 and brings the contacts 25 into engagement with the distance record sheet 6 thereby energizing the selected circuits for the next distance of travel ofthe shape or like work, and also energizes the circuits controlling the selection of punches and punch operating means.

From all the foregoing it will be understood that amachine has been provided embodying the objects of invention and the advantages herein set forth, together with other objects and advantages. 1t will be further understood that changes may be made from the precise structure shown and described without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacricing its chief advantages.

l/Vhat I claim as my invention and desire v to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A distance controlling tion a. distance record sheet having spaced feeding perforations at the sides thereof, a plurality of wheels in aliiiement at eachy side of the distance record sheet, an endless band passing vover the alined wheels at each side and having projections engaging the feeding perforations in the distance record sheet, means including apawl and ratchet mechanism for imparting intermittent rotation to said-wheels anda friction drive and automatic release therefor. Y

2. A metal punching` machine including in combination a bank of contacts, a perforate distance record sheet coperating therewith, and having series of spaced feeding holes at the sides, a shaft at one side of the bank of contacts and extending transversely and having wheels at either side of the distance record sheet, a shaft at the other side of said bank of contacts and having wheels at either side of the distance record sheet, iiexible bands extending over the wheels at either side and having spaced projections engaging the feeding holes in the distance record sheet v and means including a friction drive and an intermittently operating release and stop device for metal kpunching machines including in combinatherefor lfor im artinO intermittent rotar P e movement to said wheels.

3. A mechanism cooperating with a distance record sheet having successive rows of perforations thereacross to control metal punching 'machines and the like, including in combination means for presenting the distance record sheet substantially in a plane, a bank of coperating contacts extending across the sheet and in yielding engagement therewith, means for intermittently feeding forward the sheet substantially along said plane, and means for alternating the feeding movement with the feeding of the work in the controlled machine.

4. A mechanism cooperating with a dis-- tance record sheet having successive rows of perforations thereacross to control metal punching machines and the like, including in combination series of contacts coperating with said sheet, and means for intermittently c feeding the .sheet forward, said means incircuit, the circuit being governed by the controlled machine.

5.41 mechanism coperating with a distance record sheet having successive rows of perforations thereacross to control metal punching machines andthe like, including in combinationa series of contacts coperating withsaid sheet, and means for intermittently feeding the sheet forward, said means including driving means and a release therefor operated by a solenoid and its circuit, the circuit being governed by the controlled machine.V j

6. A mechanism coperating with a distance record sheet having successive rows of perforations thereacross to control metal punching machines and the like, including in combination a series of contacts coperating with said sheet, and means .for intermittently feeding the sheet forward, said means including traveling devices engaging with feeding holes in the sheet, a friction drive, and a releasetherefor comprising an electro-magnetic device with itsveircuit, the circuit being governed by the controlled machine.

7. A mechanism coperating with a distance record sheet having successive rows of perfor-ations thereacross to control metal punching machines and the. like, including in combination a series of contacts arranged across the sheet and in yielding engagement therewith, means forpresenting and feeding the sheet comprising travelingl'iands extending past the contacts and'longitudinally of the sheets, said bands provided with projections engaging with feed holes in the sheet, wheels driving said bands, and intermittent driving means for said wheels governed by the controlled machine.

y8. A mechanism cooperating with a distance record sheet having successive rows of perforationsthereacross to 'control metal punching machines and the like, including wheels driving said bands, and intermittent driving means including a pawl'and ratchet device, a friction drive and a release.

9. A mechanism coperating with a dis tance record sheet having successive rows of perforations thereacross to. .control metal punching machines and the like, including in combination a series of contacts arranged acrossthe sheet and in yielding engagement therewith, means for presenting and feeding the sheet comprising 'traveling bands eX- tending past the contacts and longitudinally of the sheet, said bands provided with projections engaging with feed holes in the sheet, wheels driving said bands, and intermittent driving means including a pawl and ratchet device, a friction drive and a release operated bythe controlled machine.

10. A mechanism for controlling a metal punching machine forstructural shapes and the like, including in combination distance `determining means for traveling and stbpping the shape relatively to` the ,punch to locate the rivet holes at the proper points y in the shape, and mechanism coperating vwith a ldistance record sheet tov successively set the distance determining means for the successive required distances, means for intermittently feeding the distance record sheet forward between successive settings of the distance determining means, and means for insuring alternate operation of the sheet feeding means andthe distance determining device. I i

11. A mechanism for controlling a metal punching machine for structural shapes and thelike, including in combination electrically operated distance determining means forltraveling and stopping the shape relatively to the punch to locate the rivet holes at the proper points in the shape, electrically operated mechanism coperating with a dis'- v tance record sheet to successively set the distance determining means for the successive required distances, means for intermittently feeding the 'distance record sheet forwardl between successive settings of the distance determining Vmeans and circuit controlling means for insuring alternate operation of they sheet feeding means and the distance determining device.

Cepies ofl thispatent may beobtained for 12. Amechanism coperating with a distance record sheet, having successive rows of perfor-ations thereacross to control metal punching machines -and the like, including in combination a series of yielding electrical contacts arranged in a bank across the distance record sheet and representing distance ydenominations and values, and means including` an interacting release and stop governed by the controlled machine for feeding the distance record sheet forward from one transverse row of holes to the neXt after each actuation of the controlled machine.

13. A mechanism Vcoperating with a distance record sheet having successive rows of perforatioiis thereacross to control metal punching machines and the like, including in combination a series of yielding electrical contacts arranged in a bank across the distance record sheet'and representing distance denominations and values, and means including a shaft separate from but governed by thecontrolled machine for feeding the distance record sheet forward from ono transverse row of holes to the neXt after each actuation of the controlled machine.

' 14. A mechanism coperating with a distance record sheet having successive rows of perfor'ations thereacross to control metal punching machines and the like, including a friction drive, and a release therefor com# prising an electro-magnetic device with its circuit, the circuit being governed by the controlled machine. f

15. A mechanismcoperating with a distance record sheet to control a metal punching machine, lthe sheet khaving successive rows of perforations arranged across the sheet, the rows being equally spaced apart along the sheet, said mechanism including incombinatio-n a bank-of coperating 'con- -tacts arranged across the sheet and in yielding engagement therewith, means for intere mittently feeding forward said sheet a fixed distance from one transverse series of perforations to the next, a -series of coils controlling the distance determining means of the punching machine and in circuit with the respective contacts in said bank, and means vfor alternating the feeding movement' ofy the sheet with the feeding movement of the work in the punching machine.

In testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this specification, in the presence ofl two subscribing witnesses. n

y iinwiiiin v. wURTs.

Witnesses:

f H. R. 'LINDERMAN,

VVILLARD L. HOAGLAND.

ive cents each, by, addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

